Here's an interesting low-angle view looking towards New Orleans Square. The photographer was actually standing in the middle of the river, and the water was about up to his chin. But it was worth it for this slightly off kilter view. I guess. Since this is September 1967, the crowds around Pirates of the Caribbean are big I tell ya; BIG! They are also itchy and in desperate need of ointment.
I like this lovely view of Frontierland and the river, late in the afternoon with an incandescent Mark Twain blazing in distance. Back in those days, if you said the words "amusement park" to people, they would not imagine a scene as pretty as this. And that's why we all love Disneyland!
Meh, the photographer was on a raft. And the raft was just as crowded as we see on the shore...
ReplyDeleteSome guy in the 2nd pic is wearing a tartan skirt which, in an ill-advised attempt to blend in with the natives, has been changed into tartan shorts. The folks ahead of him are politely ignoring the fashion faux pas standing right near them, facing away to studiously admire the river and take a photo in fact, as long as it takes for the man to go away. Excepting the youngest who can be seen reacting by either snickering or wanting to hurl. The lady in the middle of the pic has obviously just seen that affront to fashion sensibility, indeed social sensibility, and is understandably shocked. "Oh Heavens to Betsy I just saw the most horrible thing, Heavens, don't look now but-" Her husband, however, is merely referencing the guidebook to find the scheduled personal appearances of strolling Scottish clowns.
Not to mention the dress shoes with black socks and the fact that the shorts are hiked up almost to his armpits . . . actually, I think that might be my father (on one of his better days)!
ReplyDelete"Back in those days, if you said the words "amusement park" to people, they would not imagine a scene as pretty as this."
ReplyDeleteIf you really want an idea of what Walt was trying NOT to do, have a look at SHORPY.com It's a daily collection of high-resolution photos from 1860-1940 (plus latter, if of merit).
There's a HUGE assortment of Coney Island and Atlantic City. Not only do you get to see the rides in great detail, you also get to see the dirt, the chicanery, the tawdriness, and the wild collision of ideas that were the hallmarks of the "Amusement Park".
http://www.shorpy.com/Coney-Island-photo-gallery
Taken while "standing in the middle of the river" hey, sometime you gotta do desperate measures to get "that shot"
ReplyDeleteGreat link Katella, whoa - those places don't even compare to Disneyland...
Chiana, I prefer my theory!! Standing on a raft is just so not cool. Those plaid shorts and black socks/shoes are also very cool, I don't get what the problem is. Maybe it's because he is not wearing a Hawaiian shirt?
ReplyDeleteKatella, I am very familiar with Shorpy.com, and I have to admit that I LOVE the old photos of Coney Island, Luna Park, etc. They are not Disneyland, but they look like they must have been lots of fun in their own way. Plus it's neat to see the ladies in their long dresses and big hats, and the men with suits and bowlers or skimmers.
I believe the photographer was actually water skiing behind the Gullywhumper. That explains the slight cant of the horizon.
ReplyDeletereminds me of a private eye sneaking up on his whatever-you-would-call-it for evidence of something...people having a great time in this case! i also love how you actually look at the building more than nowadays, which now has that footbridge in front
ReplyDeletelovely shot of the riverboat and environs....yeppers! :D
Everything was fine until my eyes started bleeding....holy crap, who let that guy out of the house??? You all know who I'm talking about...
ReplyDeleteOh, and I agree with Chuck.
@ Connie: yup!! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe '70s were coming
@ Chuck: Water skiing behind the Gullywhumper?! LOL
@ Maj: "Standing on a raft is just so not cool." Mbut the slant of the pic means he was standing on a raft slowly sinking into the Rivers of America. That's kinda cool isn't it?